Post by Chris Miller on Dec 22, 2012 22:45:18 GMT -5

A hacker has posted around 300,000 database entries of Verizon customers to the Web, after exploiting a vulnerability in the cellular giant's network.

The hacker, going by the name @tibitximer on Twitter, told ZDNet earlier this evening that the hack was carried out earlier this year on July 12, which allowed him to gain root access to the server holding the customer data. Tibit gained access to a server with little difficulty after working with another hacker to identify the security flaw.

Tibit downloaded more than 3 million customer entries from Verizon's database, including names, addresses, mobile serial numbers, the opening date of each account, and account passwords. However, he said that figure was an estimate and had "no clue" exactly how many records there were, and that it was a "low estimate based on the size of one record and the size of all the files."

This would be a good time to change your FiOS account passwords. Even is this proves to be false, it wouldn't hurt.

Post by Chris Miller on Mar 23, 2012 20:53:23 GMT -5

At least you got through. I've been on hold over 30 min listening to the hold music.

Which number did you call? I called the number on the screen, 866-962-1946. I reached a bot that asked for the code on the screen. It tried to reset my STB and when that didn't do anything, it transferred me to tech support. That number is 888-553-1555.

It's strange because I am getting local channels and video on demand. Plus the Internet still works.

Post by Chris Miller on Mar 23, 2012 20:13:35 GMT -5

Sometime this evening we lost most of our FiOS channels. Local channels are fine, everything else reports a "You are not subscribed to" message on the screen.

I called the tech support number list on the screen and it sent a reset signal to my boxes. No dice. I was then transferred to tech support and the CSR said that there is a problem with 3 hubs in my area. The expected completion time is tomorrow, 2PM.

This is the first outage in the year that we have had FiOS TV. Not used to this.

A dispute between the station’s owner, Newport Television, and Verizon FiOS led WSYR to deliver on a threat to stop providing its signal to Verizon until a new contract can be reached between the two parties.

It’s unclear how long the blackout will continue.

Negotiations on the contract, which concerns how much Verizon will pay Newport Television to retransmit WSYR’s programming services, are ongoing, said John Bonomo, a regional director of media relations with Verizon.

“Verizon continues to negotiate with Newport to reach an agreement on contract terms that are reasonable and in our subscribers’ best interest, so that our customers can continue to receive the best possible television service and content they have come to expect,” said Bonomo.

It is unclear how many customers Verizon has in Central New York, where residents in several suburban communities have the ability to be connected to Verizon’s fiber-optic cable network.

For competitive reasons, the company does not release that number, said Bonomo, but nationwide Verizon has 4 million FiOS customers.

Kansas City, Mo.-based Newport Television has been alerting viewers of Channel 9 that it was in negotiations with Verizon FiOS over what the broadcast industry calls “carriage fees.” Viewers were told a blackout might occur Friday if an agreement had not been reached.

Newport today also blacked out programming to Verizon FiOS for one television station in the Albany market and two in Harrisburg.

A statement from Newport, posted on Channel 9’s website, says, in part, “We have reached deals with all other cable and satellite providers in the Syracuse market for carriage of NewsChannel 9 WSYR.” They include Time Warner Cable, DIRECTV and Dish Network satellite service.

WSYR and Newport are encouraging FiOS subscribers to contact Verizon FiOS at 800-837-4966.

Verizon has said it has contracts with all of the other television broadcasters in the Syracuse market to retransmit their local and affiliate programming.

“But so far Newport has refused our offers,” said Bonomo. “It is unfortunate that Newport has decided to remove this programming from our FiOS TV lineup, harming our customers in Syracuse.”

Bonomo and Newport said FiOS subscribers can receive Channel 9’s broadcast signal for free over the air with a digital antenna.

ABC also streams some of its programming on its website.

The Federal Communications Commission has in place rules over retransmission of local television broadcast signals over cable or by satellite.

Local broadcasters can exercise options to be carried by cable or satellite, said Lavonda Reed-Huff, a professor at Syracuse University’s law school. They can seek payment from the cable or satellite service or play the FCC card that says the cable or satellite service must carry the signal, without compensation.

Network affiliates, because of their strong programming lineup, usually seek the fees, said Reed-Huff.

“Allowing (broadcasters) to get compensation for carriage I don’t think is necessarily a bad thing,” said Reed-Huff.

Post by Chris Miller on Jan 13, 2012 17:06:05 GMT -5

I switched from Time Warner Cable to Verizon FiOS TV last summer. I'm not a fan of either cable TV provider, but I would not have made the switch had I known Verizon FiOS would drop FOX WXXA channel 23.

Unfortunately, I signed up for a (2) year agreement with Verizon FiOS and the early termination fee is $200(+).

I am so pi$$ed off at Verizon right now it's hard to describe.

I'm also on a month-to-month plan w/Verizon wireless for cell phone service. Maybe I'll switch to some other provider.

Verizon didn't "drop" WXXA, their agreement expired because Verizon would not agree to WXXA's rate. If anything, I blame WXXA more than I blame Verizon. It's the same issue that's keeping MSG off of Time Warner. Well almost the same. WXXA is an OTA channel, we can still get it without cable.

Would you really switch wireless carriers based on what's going with carriage rates? I can see switching over poor coverage or because of the rates, but switching because a local station raised it's rates doesn't make much sense to me.

Post by Chris Miller on Jan 9, 2012 13:17:37 GMT -5

I didn't bother calling WXXA. I only called Verizon to see if WXXA had the right number. I would bet most people would hang up rather than try to navigate Verizon's phone menu.

If the contract expires, it's going to hurt WXXA more than it will Verizon. Advertisers will be less likely to pay if they know that a percentage of the cable audience can't get the channel. I think WXXA will blink before Verizon does.

Post by Chris Miller on Jan 8, 2012 14:03:45 GMT -5

The carriage contract between Verizon FiOS and WXXA-FOX23 is due to expire on January 12th, 2012. This contract allows Verizon to carry WXXA-FOX23 and without a new contract, Verizon will no longer be allowed to carry WXXA-FOX23.

WXXA is broadcasting a crawl on their channel with this information and they are requesting that the viewers call 866.526.1855 to let Verizon know that you want to keep WXXA on the lineup. All viewers, not just FiOS subscribers, got to see that crawl. It was kind of lame that they kicked their HD signal down to SD just to play that crawl.

The only problem with that number is that it's their general line. You need to drill down through the tech support options for FiOS TV. After a 10 minute wait, I got through to support and expressed my concern. I don't know if that accomplished anything, but I did it anyways.

The current contract by which Verizon FiOS has the right to carry WXXA-FOX23 expires on January 12th, 2012. We have reached deals with all other cable and satellite providers in the Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY market for carriage of WXXA-FOX23. As the operator of WXXA-FOX23, we are currently working to reach a new agreement with Verizon FiOS. However based on the current status of those discussions, we do not believe Verizon FiOS will be carrying WXXA-FOX23 after January 12th, 2012. In the event WXXA-FOX23 cannot reach an agreement with Verizon FiOS, only Verizon FiOS subscribers would be affected. Please note that WXXA-FOX23 will continue to be broadcast over the air, in addition to being carried on DIRECTV, Dish Network, Time Warner and numerous other cable providers. We encourage viewers of WXXA-FOX23 who are Verizon FiOS subscribers to make alternative arrangements in order to continue viewing our great programming line-up, which includes American Idol, House, Glee, the Simpsons, in addition to the NFL, Nascar and Major League Baseball sports franchises and local news programming. Verizon FiOS subscribers can call Verizon FiOS at 866.526.1855 to let them know that you value WXXA-FOX23 and will consider canceling your Verizon FiOS service if the station is not carried. We at WXXA-FOX23 value our viewers and apologize for any inconvenience this is causing. We will continue to update our viewers on the status of carriage on Verizon FiOS

I hope that Verizon and WXXA can work this out. If the Giants make it through to the divisional playoffs, we have that as a risk. Fortunately for us, this year is NBC's turn to carry the Superbowl, so that can't be used as a bargaining chip.

Post by Chris Miller on Oct 23, 2011 19:44:39 GMT -5

They are probably running the FiOS cables to be able to offer FiOS Internet service in the near future. They can offer FiOS Internet without signing a contract with the town. That allows them to build up the infrastructure and generate some revenue before negotiating a cable TV franchise agreement with the town. To offer FiOS TV, Verizon would have to commit to being able to offer it to the entire town (within specified housing densities) over an agreed upon time frame with the town.

You wont see anything on the Verizon website about it coming to your location It's their policy not to identify specific areas getting FiOS next. It gives their competitors (in this TWC) the opportunity to offer special deals to those locations and lock people into 2 year contracts. Verizon representatives said this when they did their presentation to the town board meeting in Bethlehem earlier this year.

Post by Chris Miller on Jun 27, 2011 15:17:14 GMT -5

Will these also be made available to end users like previous TiVo hardware?

There is some news about a Premiere Elite that could come to market. TiVo has requested for an exception from the FCC to sell a DVR that doesn't have an analog tuner. The "Q" does not have an analog tuner, but is except from the FCC requirements because it is not a retail product.

According to TiVo's filing with the FCC, the analog tuner adds between $80 to $100 to the retail price of the unit. According to the source of this story, Dave Zatz, TiVo is expecting a decision from the FCC within 90 days of the filing. They filed on June 7th, which means if the FCC allows this waiver, they could bring the Elite out in time for the holiday season.

Post by Chris Miller on Jun 14, 2011 8:41:45 GMT -5

No, these were designed specifically for the cable operators. And I would assume that you would not be buying them, there would be a monthly fee similar to what you would pay for a HD DVR.

After decade a losing money for nearly every quarter and with a stagnant subscriber base, TiVo really needs this to succeed. For the smaller cable operators, this should be a good fit. They get to offer the "TiVo" brand name and an excellent user experience.

The cable operator doesn't have to commit resources to developing and testing the DVR, they can spend a portion of those resources by writing services for the TiVo to bring specialized programming in. Like what Comcast is doing with the Xfinity on Demand Library for the TiVo Premiere.

TiVo gets a larger subscription base and this should bring in a steady income stream. They really need this to survive.

I wonder how much say the cable operator gets with the TiVo feature set. The Amazon Video and Netflix apps compete with the cable company's VOD offerings. Would they be allowed to block those features? DirecTV didn't allow the full feature set with the DirecTivO box, I would expect the same thing to happen here.